The Triangle Shirtwaist Company was a factory located on the top floor of the Asch building in Manhattan, owned by Max Blanck and Isaac Harris. The company employed mainly young immigrant girls who spoke little English. On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the top floor of the Asch building. Out of the 500 factory workers, 146 died as a result of the blaze.
What happened?
Once the fire broke out, factory workers rushed down the stairways to the exits, only to find that the doors had been locked. There were a few elevators that reached the factory floors, but only one was operational and after four trips it broke down. Some workers tried to use the fire escape, but it bent under the weight of the fleeing workers. Others made it to the roof and escaped onto adjoining buildings. Those who found themselves trapped in the building waiting for rescue burned to death; when the firefighters showed up, they realized that their ladders and hoses weren't tall enough or strong enough to reach the top floors. Many girls escaped being burnt alive only by plunging to their deaths from the windows of the building. A net was brought out by the firefighters to try and save those jumping, but it ripped from the weight of three girls falling at once. In under twenty minutes, the building was torched.
Why is it important?
This tragedy is one of the worst disasters during the Industrial Revolution. It unearthed the horrible conditions that factory workers must work in, and it showed the need for increased safety measures and precautions. The deaths of these workers were largely preventable, and it was discovered a few days after the blaze that the building was not fireproof and it did not have adequate fire escapes or exits. It was also discovered that the doors to the factory were locked, preventing workers from escaping. The owners of the building, Blanck and Harris, were indicted by a grand jury on seven counts of second degree manslaughter. They were indicted under section 80 of the Labor Code, which stated that doors could not be locked during working hours. Even though many workers testified that the doors were locked during the fire, the owners were acquitted twenty-three days after the trial began. Three years later, after twenty-three individual civil suits had been brought up against Blanck and Harris, the owners paid the families $75 for each life lost. This disaster caused public outrage and protests. Workers started to join unions to fight for better working conditions. The investigation into the fire showed people the conditions factory workers were made to work in, and prompted the creation of a Factory Investigating Committee. The committee investigated factory conditions and potential hazards to the workers. The Triangle fire was the catalyst for change in labor laws and working conditions. It was an event that caused public outcry and made people aware of injustices in industry.
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
What was it?
The Triangle Shirtwaist Company was a factory located on the top floor of the Asch building in Manhattan, owned by Max Blanck and Isaac Harris. The company employed mainly young immigrant girls who spoke little English. On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the top floor of the Asch building. Out of the 500 factory workers, 146 died as a result of the blaze.What happened?
Once the fire broke out, factory workers rushed down the stairways to the exits, only to find that the doors had been locked. There were a few elevators that reached the factory floors, but only one was operational and after four trips it broke down. Some workers tried to use the fire escape, but it bent under the weight of the fleeing workers. Others made it to the roof and escaped onto adjoining buildings. Those who found themselves trapped in the building waiting for rescue burned to death; when the firefighters showed up, they realized that their ladders and hoses weren't tall enough or strong enough to reach the top floors. Many girls escaped being burnt alive only by plunging to their deaths from the windows of the building. A net was brought out by the firefighters to try and save those jumping, but it ripped from the weight of three girls falling at once. In under twenty minutes, the building was torched.Why is it important?
This tragedy is one of the worst disasters during the Industrial Revolution. It unearthed the horrible conditions that factory workers must work in, and it showed the need for increased safety measures and precautions. The deaths of these workers were largely preventable, and it was discovered a few days after the blaze that the building was not fireproof and it did not have adequate fire escapes or exits. It was also discovered that the doors to the factory were locked, preventing workers from escaping. The owners of the building, Blanck and Harris, were indicted by a grand jury on seven counts of second degree manslaughter. They were indicted under section 80 of the Labor Code, which stated that doors could not be locked during working hours. Even though many workers testified that the doors were locked during the fire, the owners were acquitted twenty-three days after the trial began. Three years later, after twenty-three individual civil suits had been brought up against Blanck and Harris, the owners paid the families $75 for each life lost.This disaster caused public outrage and protests. Workers started to join unions to fight for better working conditions. The investigation into the fire showed people the conditions factory workers were made to work in, and prompted the creation of a Factory Investigating Committee. The committee investigated factory conditions and potential hazards to the workers. The Triangle fire was the catalyst for change in labor laws and working conditions. It was an event that caused public outcry and made people aware of injustices in industry.